Ministry insists on new Ha Noi road artery despite controversy

The Ministry of Construction on Monday affirmed that the country’s national administrative centre would not be moved to Ba Vi, but noted that it was still necessary to build the Thang Long traffic axis despite the objections made by the city’s People’s Committee.

In the Committee’s document 6496/UBND-XD concerning the future development of the capital, the committee stressed that the national political and administrative centre should be located in Ba Dinh District, where it has historically existed.

The committee recommended that the country’s political centre should not be relocated to Ba Vi District, 65km northwest of Ha Noi, which would negate the creation of the Thang Long axis that would connect Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Highway 21 and West Lake with the Ba Vi area.

Under the country’s current economic condition in general and of the city in particular, funds raised should be invested in many other practical projects for the city, the committee said.

As planned, the traffic system to Ba Vi District would include the 10-lane Lang-Hoa Lac and 12-lane Tay Thang Long highways. The plan also calls for the construction of three urban railways that would provide additional transportation options between the city centre and its western area.

During the press meeting on Monday, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Dinh Toan said that since the master plan was submitted to the National Assembly for discussion on June 15, the relocation of the country’s political and administrative centre was not further mentioned in the master plan. Toan said that there was not enough available funds to house the country’s ministerial headquarters and agencies in Ba Vi District.

Headquarters would be relocated in close proximity to each other, but this does not mean that the centre would be there, Toan added.

However, the ministry insisted that the construction of the Thang Long axis would have three functions. First, it would help ease traffic pressure in the western parts of the city including Xuan Mai, Hoa Lac and Son Tay urban areas.

Secondly, beneath the axis, a water pipeline from the Da River to the inner city would supply clean water to city residents. Waste water treatment lines and underground electric cable systems would also be built. Along the axis, cultural and entertainment centres would also likely be constructed.

Deputy Minister Toan claimed that construction of the axis would not benefit any one group or individual.

Toan said that the Prime Minister would make his final decision on the future of the project soon. — VNS

Tags: Ha Noi road artery